Medical ultrasonic cauterization and cutting device and method

ABSTRACT

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a first jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the first jaw and the first jaw has an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the first jaw and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the first jaw and a surface having a plurality of teeth on either side of the trough and at the distal end of the first jaw. A second jaw has a surface facing the surface of the first jaw and having a plurality of teeth thereat. An ultrasonic waveguide extends beyond the shaft and is slidably engagable with the trough, where the ultrasonic waveguide has a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface portion, and a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide to the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion forming a cutting surface and wherein the jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween and the ultrasonic waveguide is operable to slide within the trough to further compress and cut the compressed tissue as the ultrasonic waveguide moves in a direction from the proximal end of the first jaw to the distal end of the first jaw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an ultrasonic cutting device and, more particularly, relates to a surgical cutting device with vessel-grasping jaws and an extendable blade-shaped ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing waveguide.

2. Description of the Related Art

Ultrasonic instruments are effectively used in the treatment of many medical conditions. Cutting instruments that utilize ultrasonic waves employ an ultrasonic transducer to generate vibrations along a longitudinal axis of a cutting blade. By placing a resonant wave along the length of the blade, high-speed longitudinal mechanical movement is produced at the blade's end. These instruments are advantageous because the mechanical vibrations transmitted to the end of the blade are very effective at cutting organic tissue and, simultaneously, at generating heat sufficient to cauterize the tissue. Such instruments are particularly well suited for use in minimally invasive procedures, such as endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures, where the blade is passed through a trocar to reach the surgical site.

Physical limitations of known materials used for ultrasonic generators and waveguides limit the speed and size of waveforms used to produce the ultrasonic movement. These limitations define a finite length at the end of the waveguide, referred to as a “hot spot,” that can effectively be used to perform the cutting and hemostasis. Tissue touching the waveguide at a particular distance away from the end of the waveguide (outside the hot spot) may be cut, but will not receive enough movement energy to generate the necessary heat to cause hemostasis. When performing endoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, hemostasis is critical because, where the bleeding is not kept under control, the non-invasive laparoscopy must be abandoned and the patient's body cut open to perform surgery on the otherwise inaccessible bleeding area.

Vessels are of particular import when performing ultrasonic surgery. Once severed, a vessel must be properly sealed to prevent dangerous high-volume blood loss by the patient. Vessels of smaller diameters are able to fall entirely within the hot spot of an ultrasonic cutting blade, resulting in a precise cut and complete sealing of the two open ends of the newly cut vessel. However, larger vessels, such as those with a diameter greater than 7 mm, exceed the width of the hotspot at the end of prior-art blades. This is especially true when the vessel is clamped and flattens out to around 11 mm.

Several devices exist that allow for simultaneous or substantially simultaneous cutting and sealing of large-diameter vessels. One such device 100, shown in FIG. 1, for example, is a bipolar electrocautery vessel sealer that has jaws 102, 104 which clamp across the vessel to be sealed. The clamping approximates the opposing walls of the vessel closely, providing a coaptive force. An open slot 106 runs down the middle of the jaws 102, 104 allowing a knife 108 to translate from the proximal end 110 of the jaws 102, 104 to the distal end 112 of the jaws 102, 104. The sealing process is as follows: The jaws 102, 104 are clamped across the vessel to be sealed. Bipolar (each of the jaws is a pole) electrocautery energy is applied to the clamped area of tissue. The energy heats and cauterizes the tissue causing it to become sealed together through the coaptive clamping forces of the jaws. Once the energy has been applied, the knife 108 is translated through the slot 106 in the middle of the jaws 102, 104 thus dividing the sealed vessel in the middle of the sealed area.

Another prior-art device for cutting tissue with an ultrasonic cutting blade is shown in FIG. 2. The ultrasonic clamping and cutting device 200 utilizes a clamp 202 having a set of jaws 204, 206 to clamp tissue in a particular area. Once the tissue is compressed to the point that blood can no longer flow into the clamped areas (i.e., hemostasis), ultrasonic movement is applied through a shaft 212 to an ultrasonic cutting blade 208. The blade moves relative to the jaws 204, 206 to pass through the clamped tissue. High-speed “sawing” movement of the blade 208 immediately slices through the tissue. The friction of the high-speed blade 208 is intended to also create frictional heat, which heat causes the tissue on either side of the cut to cauterize.

However, the prior-art instrument shown in FIG. 2 has a significant gap 210 around the cutting blade 208. The gap 210 is necessary in this device to allow the moving blade 208 to slide between the jaws 206. If this device were used on a vessel, it would not provide coaptive forces to opposing walls of the vessel as it translates and cuts. Close coaption of tissue while the ultrasonic energy is applied is critical when sealing a vessel using ultrasonic energy. Without this coaptive force holding the opposing walls of the vessel tightly together during the application of the ultrasonic energy, the opposing walls of the vessel will not seal together. Once the blade 208 cuts through the vessel, the gap 210 allows the vessel to pull away from the blade 208, often before the vessel is heated by the blade 208 and properly sealed. Naturally, as the diameter of the vessel being cut increases, this hemostasis problem is exacerbated.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems associated with the prior art, for example, those discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A lower jaw has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the shaft terminates into the proximal end of the lower jaw and the lower jaw has an internal trough running from and through the proximal end and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the lower jaw, an upper surface, and a plurality of teeth disposed on the upper surface of the lower jaw on either side of the trough and at the distal end of the lower jaw. The instrument also includes a pivotable upper jaw with a lower surface facing the upper surface of the lower jaw and a plurality of teeth disposed on the lower surface. The instrument further includes an ultrasonic waveguide extending in a direction through the shaft and into the trough. The waveguide has a blade with a distal end, a proximal end, and a tissue compressing and cutting surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the blade to the proximal end of the blade. The jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween and the blade is operable to slide within the trough to further compress and, then, cut the compressed tissue as the blade moves from the proximal end of the lower jaw to the distal end of the lower jaw.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a sheath surrounds the waveguide, the first jaw has a first pivot and second jaw has a second pivot and the sheath is coupled to either the first pivot or the second pivot and is operable to move relative to the waveguide and cause the second jaw to move relative to the first jaw.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the shaft, the first jaw, the second jaw, and the ultrasonic waveguide form a translating ultrasonic vessel sealer.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, there is provided a ramp in the second jaw and a first protrusion extending from the waveguide, the first protrusion sized to engage with the ramp and place a closing force on the second jaw.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, there is provided a flat portion at an end of the ramp, the flat portion being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide when the second jaw is in a closed position.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the first protrusion has an I-beam shape.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, there is provided a second protrusion extending from the waveguide on a side opposite the first protrusion.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is biased to an open position.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided an ultrasonic surgical instrument having a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An upper jaw and a lower jaw each have a proximal end and a distal end with the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the upper and lower jaws. Either the upper jaw or the lower jaw are pivotable and at least one of the jaws has an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the jaw and terminates at a point prior to the distal end of the jaw. An ultrasonic waveguide extends in a direction through the shaft and into the trough and has a blade, where the blade has a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface portion, and a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the blade toward the proximal end of the blade, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion form a cutting surface wherein the jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween and the blade is operable to slide within the trough to further compress, seal, and cut the compressed tissue as the blade moves in a direction from the proximal end of the jaw to the distal end of the jaw.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a method for performing a surgical procedure, which includes the steps of providing a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, providing a first jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the first jaw, the first jaw having an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the first jaw and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the first jaw and a surface having a plurality of teeth on either side of the trough and at the distal end of the first jaw. The method further includes providing a second jaw having a surface facing the surface of the first jaw and having a plurality of teeth thereat and providing an ultrasonic waveguide extending beyond the shaft and being slidably engagable with the trough, the ultrasonic waveguide having a distal end, a proximal end, a top surface portion, and a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide toward the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion forming a cutting surface. The method also includes the steps of compressing tissue between the jaws, applying an ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic waveguide, and sliding the ultrasonic waveguide within the trough in a direction from the proximal end of the lower jaw to the distal end of the lower jaw to further compress and cut the compressed tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a prior-art surgical stapler-cutter.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a prior-art ultrasonic cutting device.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the jaws in an open position and a waveguide in a retracted position within a trough in a lower jaw.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 3 with the jaws in a clamping position and the waveguide in an extended position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 3 with the jaws in an open position and the waveguide in an intermediate position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 3 with the jaws in an open position and the waveguide in a fully extended position.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the effect that a resonant driving wave input to a transducer has on a waveguide of the ultrasonic cutting device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with an exaggerated sinusoidal pattern shown representing the amplitude of axial motion along the length of the waveguide.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 3 with an alternative waveguide shape in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 3 with a second alternative waveguide shape in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a surgical handle attached to an ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device with an I-beam waveguide in a retracted position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 11 with the jaws in an open position and a waveguide in a partially extended position within a trough in a lower jaw.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 11 with the jaws in a clamped position and the waveguide in an intermediate position.

FIG. 14 is a partially transparent, perspective view of the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a process flow diagram of an exemplary process of operating an ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The present invention, according to one embodiment, overcomes problems with the prior art by providing a surgical device that is able to clamp onto tissue, such as large vessels, to slide a tapered ultrasonic cutting blade within the clamped area of the tissue, thereby providing the critical coaptive force to opposing vessel walls during the sealing and to ultrasonically cauterizing and sealing the clamped tissue as it is cut.

Ultrasonic Surgical Device

Described now is an exemplary ultrasonic surgical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the instrument 300 is shown in a perspective view. The instrument 300 includes a shaft 302 with a proximal end (out of view in this diagram) and a distal end 304. The distal end 304 terminates into the proximal end 306 of a lower jaw 308. The lower jaw 308 defines an internal trough 310 running from and through the proximal end 306 of the lower jaw 308 to a point just before the lower jaw's distal extent 312. The lower jaw 308 also includes an upper surface 314 with a plurality of teeth 316 disposed on either side of the trough 310 and at the distal end 312 of the lower jaw 308.

The instrument 300 also has a pivoting upper jaw 318 with a lower surface 320 facing or opposing the upper surface 314 of the lower jaw 308. A second plurality of teeth 322 is disposed on the lower surface 320 of the upper jaw 318. The upper 318 and lower 308 jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween. The teeth 316, 322, in one exemplary embodiment, are ridges that help grip the tissue and prevent it from sliding out from between the closed jaws 308 and 318.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pivotable upper jaw 318 is actuated/activated by a sheath 324 that surrounds and moves relative to the shaft 302. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the pivoting upper jaw 318 is attached to the shaft 302 at a first point 326 and is attached to the sheath 324 at a second point 328. When the sheath 324 is pushed toward the distal end 304 of the shaft 302, the upper jaw 318 pivots around both attachment points 326 and 328 and, as shown in FIG. 4, moves toward the lower jaw 308. The position shown in FIG. 4 is a fully clamped position of the jaws 308, 318. Of course, the sheath 324 is not the only configuration for operating the upper jaw 318. Any mechanical means of moving one of the jaws 308 and 318 relative to the other so that tissue is clamped there between is within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the shaft 302 and the lower jaw 308 are not necessarily two separate elements and can be, instead, one continuous piece of material. For example, the sheath 324 can be a hollow body defining two lumens therein, one for the shaft 302 and one for a non-illustrated actuation rod. That actuation rod can exist within the second lumen and distal translation can cause closure of the upper jaw 318.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an inventive sliding ultrasonic waveguide 500 is shown within the trough 310. According to embodiments of the present invention, the waveguide 500 is able to be moved from a retracted or withdrawn position, shown in FIG. 3 through any intermediate position (e.g., shown in FIG. 5) to, as will be explained in detail below, a fully extended position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

Referring briefly to FIG. 7, an ultrasonic transducer 702 is shown coupled to the waveguide 500. This transducer 702 is an electro-mechanical device that converts electrical signals to physical movement. In a broader sense, a transducer is sometimes defined as any device that converts a signal from one form to another. An analogous transducer device is an audio speaker, which converts electrical voltage variations representing music or speech to mechanical cone vibration. The speaker cone, in turn, vibrates air molecules to create acoustical energy. In the present invention, a driving wave is input to the transducer 702, which then imparts physical movements to the waveguide 500. As will be shown, this movement sets up a resonating wave on the waveguide 500, resulting in motion at the end of the waveguide 500.

Responding to a positive portion of the driving wave, the transducer 702 moves a portion 704 of the transducer 702, which is physically attached to a portion 706 of the attached waveguide 500, in a first direction 708. Likewise, the transducer 702 responds to a negative portion of the driving wave and moves the portion 704 of the transducer 702 in a second direction 712. One exemplary embodiment of the portion 704 is a stack of piezo-electric crystals.

The alternating movement 708, 712 of the transducer portion 704 places an axial compression/expansion wave illustrated by the sinusoidal wave 714 along the length of the waveguide 500. The wave 714 alternatively pulls the end 720 of the waveguide 500 toward the transducer 702 and pushes it away from the transducer 702, thereby longitudinally moving the tip 720 of the waveguide 500 along distance 718. The tip 720 is considered an “anti-node,” as it is a moving point of the sine wave 714. The resulting movement of the waveguide 500 produces a “sawing” movement along distance 718 at the end of the waveguide 500. (The wave 714 and linear movement along distance 718 are greatly exaggerated in FIG. 7 for ease of discussion.) This high-speed movement along distance 718, as is known in the art, provides a cutting waveguide that is able to slice easily through many materials, such as tissue and bone. The waveguide 500 also generates a great deal of frictional heat when so stimulated, which heat is conducted within the tissue that the waveguide 500 is cutting. This heat is sufficient to cauterize blood vessels within the tissue being cut.

Returning now to FIG. 5, the waveguide 500 is shown having an upwardly sloping surface 502 and substantially horizontal surface 504 at an upper portion of the upwardly sloping surface 502. The upwardly sloping surface 502 further compresses tissue when the tissue is already compressed between the jaws 308, 318. Any sub-portion(s) of the surfaces 502, 504 can be the ultrasonic cutting/cautery surface and a frequency of the driving wave will determine the length of such a cutting/cautery surface (increasing the frequency decreases this length and decreasing the frequency increases the length). In one exemplary embodiment, only the upwardly sloping surface 502 comprises the cutting/cautery surface. In another exemplary embodiment, both the upwardly sloping surface 502 and a portion of the substantially horizontal surface 504 comprises the cutting/cautery surface. If desired, the substantially horizontal surface 504 can slope upward like the surface 502 but at an angle, e.g., of about 3-5 degrees.

In FIG. 5, the jaws 308 and 318 are shown in an open position only for the purpose of illustrating the blade 500 within the trough 310. In actual operation, the jaws 308 and 318 will not be in the open position, but will, instead, be in the closed position shown in FIG. 4.

The device 300 operates as set forth in the following text. When the waveguide 500 is in the retracted position, shown in FIG. 3, the device 300 is positioned to insert tissue between the jaws 308, 318. The sheath 324 is, then, slid forward relative to the shaft 302, causing the jaws 308, 318 to clamp down upon the tissue. Preferably, the clamping force will be sufficient to blanch blood from the clamped area and prevent further blood flow to the tissue within the jaws suspended above the trough 310. Next, the ultrasonically-moving waveguide 500 is extended distally along the trough 310. As the waveguide 500 moves distally, the sloped edge 502 of the waveguide 500 forces the tissue up against the bottom surface 320 of the upper jaw 318. This forcing further compresses the tissue. During or after the further compression of the tissue, the cutting area of at least one of the surfaces 502, 504 contacts the tissue and both cuts and cauterizes it. Because the tissue is highly compressed, solid physical contact with the ultrasonically moving waveguide 500, 504 improves heat and movement transferred to the tissue to be cut. Advantageously, because the tissue is compressed by the jaws 308, 318 to such a degree, it does not pull away from the waveguide 500 and remains in place long enough for hemostasis to occur.

Prior art ultrasonic devices had and have fixed-length cutting surfaces. This means that the prior art devices are limited in the size of vessels that can be cut/cauterized. The device 300, in contrast, advantageously allows much larger vessels to be cut and cauterized than any device before, even where the hot spot is smaller than the diameter of the vessel to be cut. Using the illustration of FIGS. 3 and 6, for example, cutting of a vessel having a diameter as long as the exposed portion of the trough 310 in the figures is possible with the device 300. Furthermore these devices are often used for cutting through sections of mesentery that contain large quantities of small blood vessels. Having a large hot spot will allow the surgeon to transect through these areas more rapidly.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment 800 of the inventive device that utilizes a blade 802 having a novel shape. The blade 802 is provided with a relatively wide angled blade area 804 at the tip of the blade, where initial contact is made with tissue when the blade 802 is ejected out from within the interior of the shaft 806. The angled flat portion 804 of the blade 802 simultaneously pushes or “scoops” the tissue up toward the upper jaw 808 and toward a second area of the blade 810 that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, is shaped to a sharp cutting edge. Once the tissue is pushed beyond the flat area 804, the tissue contacts sharp cutting edge 810 and tissue cutting takes place. Advantageously, by the time the tissue reaches the cutting edge 810, the flat area 804 has placed the tissue under pressure. The pressure ensures sufficient contact between the tissue and the cutting blade 802 to allow cauterization to occur.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the surgical cutting device of FIG. 8. In the embodiment 900 of FIG. 9, the cutting blade 902 has a longer, more gradually sloping (from front to back), flat (less sharp), non-cutting portion 904. The non-cutting portion 904 terminates into a cutting portion 906 that is shorter and steeper than the cutting portion 810 of FIG. 8. The shorter, steeper portion 906 provides an added pressurizer of the tissue prior to it moving on to the cutting portion 902. However, cutting may also take place on the steeper portion 906.

FIGS. 5, 8, and 9 and a comparison between them show that the present invention is not limited to any particular geometry or dimensions of cutting blades. Many variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary surgical device 1000 utilizing the inventive cutting and cauterizing waveguide assembly, designated with numeral 1001. The surgical device 1000 includes a handle 1002 mechanically coupled to and operable to manipulate the waveguide assembly 1001. The handle 1002 includes the transducer 702 mechanically coupled to the waveguide 500, which generates the ultrasonic cutting and cauterizing motion at the distal end of the waveguide 500. Advantageously, the handle 1002 includes a spindle 1004 that allows the waveguide assembly 1001 and the transducer 702 to rotate relative to the handle 1002, for operation at a variety of angles.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, power is derived from only a battery 1006, or a group of batteries, small enough to fit either within the handle 1002 or within a small non-illustrated box that attaches to the user, for example, at a waistband. State-of-the-art battery technology provides powerful enough batteries of a few centimeters in height and width and a few millimeters in depth to accomplish this task.

The handle 1002 is provided with a trigger 1008 that, when depressed, causes the blade portion of the waveguide 500 to move distally within the trough (not shown in this view) toward a distal end of the jaws 308, 318. In another exemplary embodiment, forward movement speed of the waveguide 500 is limited by a trigger controller 1010, which, in one exemplary embodiment, slows the maximum possible speed of trigger depression as trigger pressure increases. Such a trigger controller 1010 ensures that the speed of the blade remains within a particular range if the surgeon applies force on the trigger 1008 that would cause the blade 500 to move faster than acceptable for proper cutting/cauterizing of tissue. The controller 1010 can be any device that can limit a rate of movement, such as a fly governor or a dashpot, for example. Alternatively the trigger motion could load a constant force spring which would drive the blade with a fixed forward pressure. As a result, the blade will move, but will be limited to a maximum velocity, which will result in proper sealing of the tissue. In such a case, an audible alert would be utilized to notify the surgeon that the transection was complete.

FIGS. 11-14 show an embodiment of the present invention that utilizes what is referred to herein as an “I-beam” blade. Turning first to FIG. 11, an ultrasonic surgical cutting and cauterizing assembly 1100 is shown. The assembly 1100 is provided with an upper jaw 1102 and a lower jaw 1104. Although the jaws shown in the instant specification have been shown with and described as having a pivoting upper jaw and stationary lower jaw, the invention is not so limited. In other embodiments, the lower jaw can pivot and the upper jaw is stationary or, alternatively, both jaws are able to pivot. Also included in the assembly 1100 of FIG. 11 is a shaft 1106 having a proximal end (not shown in FIG. 11) and a distal end 1108. The lower jaw 1104 has a proximal end 1110 and a distal end 1112. The distal end 1108 of the shaft 1106 terminates at the proximal end 1110 of the lower jaw 1104. As in the assembly 300, shown in FIGS. 3-6, the lower jaw 1104 has an internal trough 1114 running from and through the proximal end 1110 of the lower jaw 1104 and terminating at a point prior to the distal end 1112 of the lower jaw 1104. The lower jaw 1104 also has an upper surface 1116 that surrounds the trough on three sides and has a plurality of teeth 1118 thereat. The pivotable upper jaw 1102 includes a lower surface 1120 facing the upper surface 1116 of the lower jaw 1104 and has a plurality of teeth 1122 thereat.

The transparent view of the sleeve 1124 and shaft 1106 in FIG. 11 shows an ultrasonic waveguide 1126 present and withdrawn into the shaft 1106. The novel waveguide 1126 features a pair of I-beam-shaped protrusions 1128 and 1130 extending from opposite sides of the waveguide 1126. As will be explained and shown in the following figures, the I-beam-shaped protrusions 1128 and 1130 automatically close the jaws 1102 and 1104 as the waveguide 1126 extends from the shaft 1106. This automatic closing of the jaws 1102 and 1104 advantageously eliminates a step from the cutting and cauterizing process performed with the present invention making surgical processes even easier for the surgeon utilizing the instrument 1100.

FIG. 12 shows a distal end 1202 of the waveguide 1126 extending slightly out of the distal end 1108 of the shaft 1106. The distal end 1202 of the waveguide 1126 features a tissue compressing surface 1204 upwardly sloping from the distal end 1202 of the waveguide 1126 to a proximal end of the waveguide 1126 (not shown in FIG. 12). The tissue compressing surface 1204 terminates into a cutting surface 1206 that is also upwardly sloping from the tissue compressing surface 1204 of the waveguide 1126 to a proximal end of the waveguide 1126 (not shown in FIG. 12).

FIG. 13 illustrates the functionality of the I-beam protrusions 1128 and 1130. The view of FIG. 13 shows the jaws 1102 and 1104 in a closed or clamped state. The upper jaw 1102 features a recessed area 1302. Within the recessed area 1302 is a ramp 1304, which terminates into a flat area 1306. In their natural state, the jaws 1102 and 1104 are biased to an open position, as shown in FIGS. 11 & 12. As the waveguide 1126 continues to be extended out of the shaft 1106, the upper I-beam protrusion 1130 comes into contact first with the ramp 1304. Although not shown in FIG. 13, the lower jaw 1104 is also provided with a recessed area for engaging the lower I-beam protrusion 1128. The fixed distance between the I-beam protrusions 1128 and 1130 squeezes the jaws 1102 and 1104 together, forcing the upper jaw 1102 to close toward the lower jaw 1104 as the I-beam 1130 is pushed further up the ramp 1304. Once the upper jaw 1102 and lower jaw 1104 are in their fully clamped positions, as shown in FIG. 13, the upper protrusion of the I-beam follows the flat portion 1306 of the recess 1302 of the upper jaw 1102. The jaws 1102 and 1104 cannot become unclamped while the I-beam protrusion is positioned along the flat portion 1306. The I-beam embodiment advantageously results in an automatic clamping of the jaws 1102 and 1104 and extension of the cutting waveguide 1120 within the trough 1114, all in a single step. The operator need only extend the waveguide 1126 to cause the jaws 1102 and 1104 to compress tissue therebetween. The waveguide 1126 continues to slide within the trough 1302 to further compress and cut the compressed tissue as the waveguide 1126 moves in a direction from the proximal end 1110 of the jaws 1102 and 1104 to the distal end 1112 of the jaws 1102 and 1104.

As the waveguide 1126 is retracted back into the shaft 1106, the bias on the jaws 1102 and 1104 forces the jaws 1102 and 1104 to begin opening. Once the I-beam protrusion 1130 is moved beyond the ramp 1304, the jaws 1102 and 1104 return to their fully open position, shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 shows a partially transparent view of the ultrasonic surgical device of FIGS. 11-13. The partially transparent view shows the lower recessed area 1402 where the lower protrusion 1128 travels when the waveguide 1126 is extended out of the shaft 1106.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary process flow diagram of method of using an embodiment of the present invention. In a first step 1502, the operator closes the jaws 1102 and 1104 to compress tissue between them. Next, in step 1504, the ultrasonic transducer 702 applies an ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic waveguide 500. In a following step, 1506, the blade portion 902, 904, 906 is slid within the trough 310 in a direction from the proximal end of the lower jaw to the distal end of the lower jaw to further compress and cut the already partially compressed tissue. Once step 1506 is complete, the blade, in step 1508, is retracted and, in step 1510, the jaws are opened and the tissue released. The process ends at step 1512.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a first jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the first jaw, the first jaw having: an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the first jaw and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the first jaw; and a surface having a plurality of teeth on either side of the trough and at the distal end of the first jaw; a second jaw having a surface facing the surface of the first jaw and having a plurality of teeth thereat; and an ultrasonic waveguide extending beyond the shaft and being slidably engagable with the trough and having a blade, the blade having: a distal end; a proximal end; a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the blade toward the proximal end of the blade; and a substantially horizontal top surface portion at an upper portion of the tissue compressing surface, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion forming a cutting surface, wherein the jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween and the blade is operable to slide within the trough to further compress and cut the compressed tissue as the blade moves in a direction from the proximal end of the first jaw to the distal end of the first jaw.
 2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: the first jaw is fixed; and the second jaw is pivotable.
 3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, further comprising: a sheath surrounding the waveguide; a first pivot on the second jaw; and a second pivot on the second jaw, wherein the sheath is coupled to one of the first and second pivots and is operable to move relative to the waveguide and cause the second jaw to move relative to the first jaw.
 4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the shaft, the first jaw, the second jaw, and the blade form a translating ultrasonic vessel sealer.
 5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising: a ramp in the second jaw; and a first protrusion extending from the waveguide, the first protrusion sized to engage with the ramp and place a closing force on the second jaw.
 6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising: a flat portion at an end of the ramp, the flat portion being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide when the second jaw is in a closed position.
 7. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein: the first protrusion has an I-beam shape.
 8. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising: a second protrusion extending from the waveguide on a side opposite the first protrusion.
 9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is biased to an open position.
 10. An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an upper jaw and a lower jaw each having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the upper and lower jaws, at least one of the upper jaw and the lower jaw being pivotable and at least one of the jaws having: an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the jaw and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the jaw; and a surface on either side of the trough and a plurality of teeth thereat; and an ultrasonic waveguide extending beyond the shaft and being slidably engagable with the trough and having a blade, the blade having: a distal end; a proximal end; a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the blade toward the proximal end of the blade; and a substantially horizontal top surface portion at an upper portion of the tissue compressing surface, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion forming a cutting surface, wherein the jaws are operable to compress tissue therebetween and the blade is operable to slide within the trough to further compress, seal, and cut the compressed tissue as the blade moves in a direction from the proximal end of the jaw to the distal end of the jaw.
 11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein: the lower jaw is fixed; and the upper jaw is pivotable.
 12. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising: a sheath surrounding the waveguide; a first pivot on the upper jaw; and a second pivot on the upper jaw, wherein the sheath is coupled to one of the first and second pivots and is operable to move relative to the waveguide and cause the upper jaw to move relative to the lower jaw.
 13. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the shaft, the lower jaw, the upper jaw, and the ultrasonic waveguide form a translating ultrasonic vessel sealer.
 14. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising: a ramp in the upper jaw; and a first protrusion extending from the waveguide, the first protrusion sized to engage with the ramp and place a closing force on the upper jaw.
 15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising: a flat portion at an end of the ramp, the flat portion being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide when the upper jaw is in a closed position.
 16. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein: the first protrusion has an I-beam shape.
 17. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising: a second protrusion extending from the waveguide on a side opposite the first protrusion.
 18. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein: at least one of the upper jaw and the lower jaw is biased to an open position.
 19. A method for performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising: providing a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; providing a first jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the shaft terminating at the proximal end of the first jaw, the first jaw having: an internal trough running from and through the proximal end of the first jaw and terminating at a point prior to the distal end of the first jaw; and a surface having a plurality of teeth on either side of the trough and at the distal end of the first jaw; providing a second jaw having a surface facing the surface of the first jaw and having a plurality of teeth thereat; providing an ultrasonic waveguide extending beyond the shaft and being slidably engagable with the trough, the ultrasonic waveguide having: a distal end; a proximal end; a tissue compressing surface upwardly sloping from the distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide toward the proximal end of the ultrasonic waveguide; and a substantially horizontal top surface portion at an upper portion of the tissue compressing surface, at least one of the tissue compressing surface and the top surface portion forming a cutting surface; compressing tissue between the jaws; and sliding the ultrasonic waveguide within the trough in a direction from the proximal end of the lower jaw to the distal end of the lower jaw to further compress and cut the compressed tissue.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the compressing tissue between the jaws step comprises: moving a sheath surrounding the waveguide relative to the waveguide to cause the second jaw to move relative to the first jaw, the sheath being attached to the first jaw at a first pivot and the second jaw at a second pivot.
 21. The method according to claim 19, which further comprises: applying an ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic waveguide. 